Pallekele, February 17: After scoring a brilliant unbeaten century, Pathum Nissanka expressed his joy at leading Sri Lanka to the Super 8 stage. The ‘Player of the Match’ highlighted his satisfaction in playing his natural game on a good batting pitch. He stated that he was thrilled to contribute to his team’s victory with his century.
Nissanka scored an impressive 100 runs off 52 balls, hitting 15 boundaries. His performance helped Sri Lanka secure a historic 8-wicket win against Australia in the 30th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Chasing a target of 182 runs, Sri Lanka completed the match in just 18 overs.
Discussing his approach during the run chase, Nissanka said, “The wicket was excellent today, allowing me to play my natural game. I am very happy to score a century and help my team win. We needed a strong power play. There was a great partnership between Kusala Mendis and me, and from there, it was about continuing my innings and securing the win for my team.”
Regarding the conditions, he noted, “Generally, batting in the second innings at Pallekele is slightly easier, and as the game progressed, the wicket improved. There wasn’t much dew here.”
On his form, Nissanka mentioned, “I was just waiting for the balls to come into my zone. I was pleased to receive several deliveries that suited my strengths.”
Sri Lanka had previously defeated Ireland by 20 runs in their first match and then crushed Oman by 105 runs. With three consecutive wins, the Sri Lankan team sits atop Group B with a net run rate of +2.462.
In contrast, Australia, having lost one of their three matches, is currently in second place in the points table with a net run rate of +0.414. Zimbabwe is also in contention, having won both of their initial matches, while Ireland is still in the race alongside Australia for a spot in the Super 8.
